Located on the historic grounds of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago’s Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, in Jackson Park, is the perfect place to explore the past, discover the present and ponder the future. Inside The Griffin, museumgoers can learn about almost every scientific field from astrophysics to oceanography to meteorology through fun, interactive experiments. For non-STEM folk, fun can still be had by simply marveling at the massive model train diorama or experiencing the limited-time exhibition, “Marvel’s Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing,” running through Feb. 8, 2026. Even the museum’s grounds offer an opportunity for exploration as tourists can wander around the Garden of the Phoenix — Japanese tea garden and what remains of the White City. Whether you are in the mood for scientific inquiry or a more artistic stroll through man-made nature, the Griffin Museum and the greater Jackson Park area have something for everyone.
Photo Gallery:
The Chicago Museum of Science and Industry seen over the lagoon in Jackson Park. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
The gate to the Garden of the Phoenix Japanese garden in Jackson Park. The garden was installed as part of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
A loop of the Japanese garden. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
A Japanese Moon Bridge leaps over the garden's koi pond. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
A traditional tea house gifted by the Empire of Japan in 1933. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
White cherry blossoms form a wall in the Japanese garden of Jackson Park. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
Skylanding by Yoko Ono, her first permanent exhibit in America. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
Given a park to itself, the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry stands as a monument to Midwest innovation and as a proud part of the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
A penguin party to welcome you into the museum. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
The original U-505 Submarine is held in captivity at the museum. This unterseeboot was captured off the coast of West Africa by the US Navy during WWII. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
Rockets through the ages of US exploration are on display in the Henry Crown Space Center exhibit of the museum. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
"The Dragon" spacecraft capsule was designed by SpaceX for passenger carrying reusable space flight. The name was given as homage to the Peter, Paul and Mary song "Puff the Magic Dragon." Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
A replica lunar lander on display. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
Viewers step into a 360 immersive room where LED paneled visuals display a series of water cycle videos, showing how delicate our planet's water cycle is and the threats posed by micro plastics. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
Museum visitors peer into screens that show the alternatives to plastics. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
A tank simulates tsunami conditions for visitors. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
The United Airlines 1930s MainLiner on display. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
Once a railroad hub of the country, Chicago's crossroad history is respected at the Chicago Museum by displays like these, showing off genuine models of passenger locomotives. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
A miniature set of Chicago. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
Continued from the miniature set of the city of Chicago, the set shows off the surrounding region and the train lines that run through it. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
Paying tribute to the legacy of Spiderman, the museum displayed an immersive gallery detailing the Amazing Spiderman's comic book history. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
Here is an original edition of Spiderman first ever appearance. Originally called Amazing Adult Fantasy, the creators of Spiderman soon dropped the title to Amazing Fantasy. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
The Spider-Man costume as worn by Tom Holland in "Spider-Man: Homecoming" stands on display at the Griffin Museum. Photographed by Gavin Meichelbock/BruinLife.
Kingpin battles the web crawling menace. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
The Green Goblin mask used in the Sam Raimi 2002 Spider-Man movie. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
The mirror maze concluded our trip inside the museum. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
